What looked like a potential down season in the making for Destrehan was anything but.
The Wildcats spun a 2-3 start into a 10-4 season, capped by a trip to the state semifinals. Destrehan overcame several injuries throughout the season to recapture its form entering the playoffs.
While Destrehan will have to replace several key contributors, the silver lining on many of those injuries last season is that younger players earned playing time and experience that will assist them this year. And the three players who touch the ball the most in this offense – Jackson Fields, Malachi Dabney and Jabari Mack – are all back in 2025.
Quarterback
Jackson Fields returns for his senior season, and his third as Destrehan’s starting quarterback.
Fields has led Destrehan to a state semifinal and a state quarterfinal in each of his seasons as starter. He missed time with injury last year but nonetheless passed for 1,659 yards, 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while adding another score on the ground. That followed up on a sophomore season that saw him rank among the state’s top passers in total numbers.
Perhaps most exciting for Destrehan – he’s entering year two in offensive coordinator Clinton Harrison’s offense, which began to show its potential at the end of last season. Destrehan scored 61, 63 and 69 points in three of its final four wins of the season.
“The first thing with him is composure. He doesn’t get too high and he doesn’t get too low,” said Destrehan head coach Marcus Scott. “He’s always an even keel. Jai (Eugene) was very similar to that, never got way up or way down.”
Fields recently committed to play at Incarnate Word – he’ll be on to play college football after the season. His recruitment began to accelerate after a video of an impressive throw he made to teammate Jabari Mack went viral from this year’s spring game against Karr. He uncorked the ball while on the run and the long bomb was right on the money – and commentors began to ask about Fields, who despite posting prolific numbers in each of the past two years had flown relatively under the radar in terms of collegiate recruiting.
“(Incarnate Word) had reached out to him early in the process and when the video happened, I think they ramped up their efforts,” said Scott.
Scott said Fields has put in a lot of work this offseason in getting stronger.
Meanwhile, backing Fields up is sophomore Au’Shai Smith, who got a series of starts last season as a freshman when Fields was injured in the season opener against Catholic-Baton Rouge.
It gives Destrehan one of the better backup quarterback situations in the state – despite his young age, Smith completed 62 percent of his passes and threw four touchdown passes while running for two more scores. He now enters the year as the rare sophomore in 5A with some starting experience.
“He has a similar personality as Jackson in that he stays stable, doesn’t rattle,” said Scott. “And both of these guys really process the game.”
Running back
Malachi Dabney embodies the phrase “breakout season.”
Dabney wasn’t supposed to be the starter entering last season – that was to be then-senior Shane Ward, an experienced and very productive back in his previous starts and playing time for the Wildcats. But Ward was injured and sidelined for the entirety of the season before game one, leaving the rushing work to a committee of runners.
Enter Dabney, who grabbed the lead role and never looked back. He rushed 231 times for 1,688 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards a carry. His second half of the season, coinciding with Destrehan’s eight-game win streak that carried them into the state semifinals, saw him pile up massive games starting with a 241-yard, four touchdown effort against Captain Shreve, then a 248 yard, one touchdown effort against Hahnville. In the playoffs, he rushed for 219 yards and five touchdowns against Airline and 270 yards and six touchdowns against Northwood.
He was a sophomore. And now he’s an experienced junior.
“He got stronger and stronger as the year went on,” Scott said. “We gave him probably more carries than I like to give in one game – we usually spread it out more between backs. But sometimes you have to have that type of player – and he can do it. He can handle it from time to time.”
For a Destrehan team that starts by emphasising physical play, being able to run the ball with such efficiency helped propel the offense into one of the most prolific in the state.
“Running the ball gives you that level of physicality that only helps you build momentum in the late part of the game,” Scott said. “Every coach wants to be physical, no matter what level you’re at or school you’re at.”
All-purpose weapon Jabari Mack and Jordan Zeringue will mix in behind Dabney, as well as Bruce Walker and Michael White.
“I thought the effort was good across the board in our scrimmage. Behind Malachi, we’ll kind of do it by committee,” said Scott.
Receivers and tight ends
Jabari Mack leads the way here.
The LSU-commitment is a rare blend of strength and speed who is as likely to beat a defense over the top as he is to run through several would-be tacklers. Mack was again a jack of all trades for Destrehan, producing as a pass-catcher, a runner – and even a passer and defender, as his game-winning tackle and go-ahead touchdown pass in DHS’ 46-42 win over Captain Shreve illustrated.
“He’s really the big brother of that wide receiver crew,” Scott said. “He’s one of the two seniors in that room. We’ll give him a few more touches on special teams this year, kickoff returns, punt returns, and just look to get the ball into his hands.”
Scott compared his versatility to Anthony Robinson, who starred both defensively and offensively for Destrehan’s 2022 championship team and went on to Ole Miss following his final season at DHS.
“Those guys are rare,” Scott said. “We’ll pick our spots how we use him, but we’ll play him all over.”
Junior Jaylan Ash will be a new face among the starters. He’s 6’2 and 175 pounds, and Scott said he is gifted when it comes to making the contested catch.
“He’s as acrobatic of a pass catcher as we’ve had here,” Scott said. “He can contort his body to make some difficult catches, and that seperates him from a lot of people because he doesn’t have to necessarily be open to make a play.”
Jordan Zeringue, Cai Williams, Marcel Frederick and Coryan Armstrong are also among players who can be expected to impact the game.
Brayden Fayard, Michael White and Bruce Walker will be in the mix at H-back.
Offensive line
This is a unit that blew open rushing lanes for Dabney to post the aforementioned statlines, and though it will navigate some departures, there is experience back.
Gage Schreiber, Earl Collins and Yeshua Lazo all started or saw significant action last season. Collins and younger brother Jordan Collins will start as the team’s offensive tackles. Brandon Ross and Jamiah Giles are in the mix as well.
It’s a line with good size. Earl Collins, a senior, is the biggest, listed 6’3 and 310 pounds – his ‘little’ brother Jordan at 6’3 and 305, a sophomore. Lazo will start at center, taking over for standout Michael Reed who graduated, and Lazo comes in at 285 pounds.
Defensive lineman Braylon Montero will also see work on the offensive line.
“We’ve got guys who have played some big, big games for us, playoff games and big games on the road,” said Scott. “That always makes a big difference. So even with having to replace some good guys, it makes the transition a bit easier.”
The offensive line has long been a strength for the Wildcats. Scott credited offensive line coaches Joe Trosclair and Jason Smothers for strong mentorship.
“They promote a camaraderie and brotherhood both on and off the field,” said Scott. “They’re coaches but also mentors outside of football, and to me that really helps in their development. That, I think, has led to a lot of the activities between the guys outside of football. They build a bond.”
Defensive line
Defensive ends Bryce Bufkin and Cameron Florent are returning and bring experience to the Wildcats’ defensive front, as do tackles Aiden Schwab and Braylon Montero. Bufkin was among the Wildcats’ team leaders in tackles for loss last season with seven. He and Florent combined for seven quarterback hurries last season, both among the team leaders there.
Christian Loveless, Nicholas Apostolidis and Joshua Fiffie will rotate in to keep the line fresh, all to see their first significant action this year.
Scott said the experience of the starting group, however, makes a big difference considering about a third of their games came in the postseason.
“Our expectation is that the guys who were on the field last season in the state semifinal are going to really turn it on,” Scott said. “And take their game to another level. I think that’s a reasonable expectation.”
Linebacker
Senior Kyce White brings the experience here after starting several games as a junior last season. Tony Crump, meanwhile, makes the move from running back to the linebacking corps. Khylan Rousseau will see his first major action as well, as will Elijah Smith.
“For that group, it’s probably our most inexperienced,” Scott said. “But we have a group of guys here who have the ability to make some plays out there. The key is that the more snaps they get, the better off we should be there in terms of the communication, the checks, working together like that.”
Crump is looking to be another successful conversion from one side of the ball to the other, as Destrehan saw several of those last season including Damien Richard and Johnnie Thiel, both of whom went from offense to primarily defense.
“With (Crump), we still plan to get him some work offensively,” Scott said. “But we thought it was important for him to get all the reps he could at linebacker in the spring, in the summer so he can learn it. He already knows the offensive side of the ball … now it’s just a matter of getting real game reps, and his game will continue to improve.”
Defensive back
The aforementioned Damien Richard II made a big impact after converting from running back to primarily play cornerback last season. He still contributed offensively, but as a defensive back he led the Wildcats in pass deflections with 13 – the only player to record double figures in that stat – while also intercepting a pass and recording 47 tackles.
“He leads that group,” said Scott. “He’s really turned a corner and become a leader for us. He’s made a ton of progress … when you see him, you can really tell the work he’s put in the offseason. His body has really changed and developed. He had a very successful track and field season and it really carried over. He’s in a really good place right now as a leader on and off the field.”
Ryan Montague, Kaine Lee and Jakyrin Sanchez join him in the cornerback ranks.
Frank Harding returns as starter at safety, while Tahj Morton will see time as well at safety.
Harding and Sanchez were among several sophomores pressed into action last season after injuries opened lineup spots.
“Because of that, they’re juniors now, things have slowed down a little bit for them and they’ve been better for it,” Scott said.
Marcell Frederick will also play cornerback, bouncing over from wide receiver, and Chandler Scott will also provide depth as a freshman.
Specialists
Ryan Comeaux, Ian Arceneaux and Donald Thomas will see time collectively as kicker and punter.
At long snapper, Ben Hall, Frank Harding and Elijah Smith. Holders will be Ian Arceneaux, Cai Williams and Au’Shai Smith.
Jaylan Ash, Jabari Mack, Marcell Frederick and Jordan Zeringue will all mix in as kick and punt returners.
“It’s been a solid offseason and all of these guys have put in a lot of work. We’re looking forward to a solid season from our specialists. They put in a lot of extra time to get better at their craft,” Scott said.
